One Piece author reveals why he created Hody Jones.

Key Takeaways

• Oda creates nuanced villains in One Piece to reflect real-world themes such as racism and prejudice.
• Hody Jones is a powerful example of unfounded racism in society and the consequences it brings.
• Fans should appreciate Hody Jones more for his role in highlighting important social issues.

one piece One of the best animated series of all time. It is known in part for its storytelling, world-building, and incredible cast of characters. Oda gives equal attention to heroes and villains, which is one of the main reasons they are so popular. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they prefer antagonists to heroes.

Oda doesn't just create powerful villains, he creates them in a very layered way. The One Piece author puts them into the story to achieve a specific purpose. Not only does he create villains to act as Luffy's opponents, but he also reflects certain ideas. Because of the nuance in Oda's work, not all One Piece fans will be able to identify these themes, and certain villains will be overlooked. One such example is Hody Jones.

Why the Straw Hat Pirates met Hody Jones

The Straw Hats fought him in the Fishman Island episode.

Hody Jones was introduced in the Fish-Man Island arc, which served as the setting for the first arc after the time skip. In this episode, the story unfolds of the Straw Hat Pirates visiting Fishman Island and finally entering the New World. But what was supposed to be a regular trip ended up being a dangerous voyage into the depths of the ocean.

The people of Fishman Island have been discriminated against by humans and other races for centuries. The island's natives were attacked and sold into slavery, which is why many of them abandoned the idea of ​​establishing good relations with them. Most fish people simply avoid humans, but some of them have developed a strong hatred for humans. One such individual was Hody Jones.

Hody Jones and his hatred for humans

Hody Jones is in pure hate.

• Total disregard for his life.
• I just wanted to arouse hostility.

Hody Jones was a racist who despised humans and wanted to keep the other residents of Fish-Man from being on good terms with them. When Otohime attempted to promote peace between the two races, Hody Jones seized the opportunity. This caused tensions to rise once again.

Another thing that highlighted Hody's fanaticism was the way he was willing to destroy his own body. Hody Jones took several performance-enhancing drugs to fight humans. He doesn't seem to care about the side effects it has on his body as long as it helps him get what he wants.

According to Eiichiro Oda, Hody Jones was created to highlight groundless racism in One Piece and the real world. Hody Jones' character proves that people blinded by racism cannot think rationally and can cause harm to everyone around them. Oda also added that children may not understand these topics, but things will change in the future.

One Piece Fans Should Appreciate Hody Jones More

Hody Jones may not have a complex personality, but what he emphasizes is very real. Fish Man is a great example of how things work in the real world. Watching and analyzing his character can help One Piece fans learn and understand the dangers of being prejudiced against certain races or groups.

Another reason Hody Jones is overlooked is because of his weak strength. Considering he's the first major villain Luffy has faced since the timeskip, fans were hoping he could provide a big challenge. However, the young pirate was able to defeat Hody Jones with relative ease. But Hody Jones has never been about power. He was included in the story as a tool to help fans understand racism and its impact on a group of people.

Besides Hody Jones, there are many other characters in One Piece who believe in similar ideals. Marijoa's Celestial Dragon is the best example. They consider themselves superior to others and therefore refuse to breathe the same air as ordinary people. They can enjoy money and other special privileges just because of their ancestry. Because the Heavenly Dragon has no moral code, it commits all kinds of crimes. They buy slaves, kill innocent people, etc. Let's hope that the Age of Celestial Dragons comes to an end in One Piece's Final Saga.

You can watch One Piece on Crunchyroll.